Make your own cookie cutters this year

In case you needed another reason to build, borrow, or buy a 3D printer, here’s one way to design and print your own cookie cutters. [Nikolaus Gradwohl] put together a processing app that aims to make the design process a bit easier. So if you’ve never designed a printable object before, but can get your hands on a MakerBot or similar device through a friend or your local hackerspace, this is for you. Check out the video after the break to see the process of making a cutter in the shape of a mushroom, or just download the app and give it a go.

The makerbot uses high density polyethylene as one of its extrusion materials, which is used frequently in food containers. It may emit BPA, but it unlikely the amount you would ingest from brief contact to cookie dough would be harmful.

love the music, and as far as the sheet metal idea, yes it’s good, but harder to work with and still get the precision on the small scale that this method does. and if your still worried about toxins, spray it with cooking spray, it’ll help the dough release and puts a thin barrier between the plastic and the food.

a good and cheap material for making cookie cutters are cookie cutters. they are food safe, and already have a blunt and a sharpened edge. you get them for cheap at the thrift store. or if that fails at a craft supply store (with a 40% coupon).
look for big round shapes like circles or ovals. avoid shapes that already have sharp bends.
now the only challenge i still face is designing a shape that has the same circumference as the blank circles (because i don’t want to start spot welding just for this)

the makerbot normally uses abs which is what legos are made from. I only print in pla poly lactic acid.
This plastic is food grade and is even being used for body implants etc. The pla I use is made from corn and smells great when using my makerbot